Improvement in flexible gates



2 Sheets--Sheet1r 1.,M. RICHARDSON. Improvement in Flexible-Gates. NO, 133 051 Patented N0v.12,1872.

AM PHOT0-LITHOGRAPHIC CQNYIOSEDRNE S P806555] 2Sheets--Sheet2.

J. M RiCHARDSON.

Improvement in Flexible-Gates.

No. 133,057. Patented Nov.12,l872.

WITNESSES Fig. 4. BNVENTOR gwrgz m 44W A M. PHOTO'LITHOGHAPHICCO. NJflOSEO/PNES P17005854) UNITED Ann 0rrron.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBLE GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,051, dated November 12, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPH M. RICHARDSON, 0f Elmira, in the county of Ohemun g and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a perspective view of my gate closed; Figs. 2 and 3 are details; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my gate open; and Fig. 5 is a detail.

This invention has relation to an improvement in folding-gates; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices whereby a swiveled pulley is arranged at the top of the hinge-post in such a manner that, while the center of gravity of the counterbalancing-weight moves in or nearly in the same vertical line, the pulley will be free to turn horizontally, in a sweeping manner, to answer the movement of the gate. The object of this invention is mainly to prevent the wear of the rope, which is of common occurrence when the rigid pulley is employed with such foldinggates; and also to prevent the frequent disengagement of the rope, which will take place, according to a well-known principle, when the gate is being elevated, when there is the least space between the pulley and the wall of the post to which is pivoted. When a chain is employed the effect of the unnecessary friction will exhibit itself in the cutting out of the postwall, and in either case, with my invention, no more forceis required to operate the gate vertically when the gate is open than when it is in line between the gate-posts. It is also the object of my invention to have the weight fall in the same vertical line, because the snow, which renders these folding-gates advantageous, is"

apt to bank up or drift about the gate-post, and thus prevent the free action of the weight when the same is not protected by placing it within ahollow post or between palings arranged for this purpose. The pulley is situ ated forward of the vertical axis, as much as is consistent with the other objects of this invention, to obtain leverage, thus insuring that the pulley will answer the lateral movement of the gate.

In the accompanying drawing an ordinary folding-gate is illustrated, having the pickets and stringers pivoted together and swinging between a hinge-post, A, and a latch-post, B. The gate is counterbalanced by a weight, H, at the end of a rope or chain, F, passed over a pulley at or near the top of the hinge-post. G represents a pulley pivoted to a curved or inclined arm, 9, which is swiveled to a bracket, G, in such a manner that the pulley will be forward of the pivotal axis, which is arranged so that its prolongation will be tangent, ornear 1y so, to the rear edge of the pulley, or in line with the dependingportion of the ropeto which the weight is attached. The bracket G should be cut out on each side so that the rope will not graze when the gate is opened to its furthest extent.

\Vhen the pulley and its attachments are thus arranged the rope will play with no other friction than that which is caused by its contact with the pulley.

The weight may be inclosed in the hollow of a post or otherwise to keep it from the weather and from snow-drifts.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The' combination, with a parallel folding- I gate having a gate-cord, F, and weight H, of the curved arm g, carrying the pulley G for ward of its pivotal axis, which is vertically in line with the rear edge of said pulley, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

J. M. RICHARDSON. Witnesses:

D. D. KANE,

GEO. E. UPHAM. 

